I am tickled that the marquee at The Daily Cabal currently reads, "Today, we are the: Rogue Violist." (Background: I played viola in grade school, and was, shall we say, never the model pupil. There were very few pieces I practiced with both love and diligence, the two standouts being Hummel's "Fantasia in D" and a two-line solo in a baritone aria from Massenet's Manon (the soloist, whom I had a minor crush on and whose senior recital I attended, is now a high-society realtor in the town where I currently live. No, I haven't contacted him -- some things are best left in the past).

I am also tickled at the Cabal's plans for celebrating their third anniversary. Go visit them on March 26. That's all I'll say for now.

Best March Madness Twitter exchange to date:

Andy Roddick: ".... had ND in elite 8 ...... &*%$"

Julie in Colorado: @andyroddick Should have known better to pick the Irish to win the early game the day after St Patricks Day

Speaking of doomed brackets, tonight's match between Berdych and Nadal is a win-win for me: I'm kinda rooting for Berd, because I have a soft spot for Czech players and because I loved watching him practice in Memphis, but I pegged Rafa as the winner when filling out my guesses predictions. (With Stepanek and Cilic both crashing out early, my overall bracket has been trashed since R64)

...and, after a slow start, Berd breaks back to even things out at 4-4. Well, well, well, we may have a match after all (and I may have to start watching instead of scoreboarding -- they're both pretty men, but I'm trying to catch up on some things, so I wasn't going to wrestle with streams for a blowout)

64 degrees F at 1 pm today. Met a dear friend for lunch, which included Mandarin scallops and discussion about Episcopalian goings-on.

Speaking of Episcopalians: the denomination's second openly gay bishop, the Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, will be consecrated on May 15. She will also be one of the first two female bishops in the Diocese of Los Angeles. (Inessential but of interest to me: she is the daughter of a New York rector, she is in her mid-50s, and she has been with her partner for over twenty years.)

...and, Rafa takes the first set 6-4. ...and now he rips a fantastic forehand...and then there's a fantastic backhand by Berdych. Nadal really is wearing the ugliest shorts in California, though - I'm not sure my eyes can take them for another hour. Good fight by Berdych to hold for 2-1. (And this is all but gibberish to maybe three of you, so time for me to move over to a tennis forum.)